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Anguilla’s Amarni Webster wins 2026 CTO Regional Tourism Youth Congress
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (Oct. 9, 2026) — Anguilla’s Amarni Webster has been named the winner of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) 2026 Regional Tourism Youth Congress, emerging from a field of 18 young delegates to earn the title of Regional Junior Minister of Tourism.
Held as part of the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Guyana on Thursday, the congress provided a platform for young Caribbean leaders to share their ideas for the future of the region’s tourism industry under the theme “Caribbean Tourism Through the Eyes of Tomorrow.”
Webster, a student at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, impressed the judges with a presentation that highlighted the importance of developing young talent, strengthening skills and expanding access to meaningful employment opportunities in tourism. As Regional Junior Minister of Tourism, Webster will be mentored by a team representing lead sponsor Carnival Corporation.
Second place went to Raia Cargill of Sunland Baptist Academy in The Bahamas, who will serve as junior CTO secretary-general and be mentored by CTO Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper, gaining firsthand exposure to regional tourism leadership and the work of the organization.
Jahneil McKenzie of Daryll Jordan Secondary School in Barbados placed third, while Janica Adams of the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies received special mention.
The congress was chaired by Jolé St. John of Tobago, the 2025 winner, and challenged participants to demonstrate their research, public speaking, critical thinking and ability to respond to issues affecting Caribbean tourism.
“Congratulations to Amarni and to every delegate who brought their ideas, preparation and passion to this year’s congress,” Regis-Prosper said. “These young people deserve opportunities to help shape the industry they will inherit. Investing in their development is an investment in the region’s future.”
Beyond the competition, the youth program created opportunities for delegates to connect with students, educators and youth organizations in the host destination.
Through the Regional Tourism Youth Congress, CTO continues to strengthen youth participation in tourism, develop emerging leaders and ensure that young Caribbean voices contribute to the sector’s future.
SOTIC is supported by official conference partners Amadeus and the Inter-American Development Bank, Tourism Intelligence Awards sponsor ASM Global Route Development, contributing sponsors the Association of Value Airlines, Digicel Business and Atlantic Suites Hotel, Youth Congress sponsor Carnival Corporation, and official airline partner interCaribbean Airways.
Regional Tourism Youth Congress 2026 winner Amarni Webster of Anguilla is congratulated by CTO Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper. Also pictured, from left, are Carnival Corporation’s Philcher Grant and Marie McKenzie, and Charles “Max” Fernandez, Antigua and Barbuda’s minister of tourism and CTO chairman.
Regional Tourism Youth Congress 2026 winner Amarni Webster of Anguilla (center) with second-placed Raia Cargill of The Bahamas (right) and third-place winner Jahneil McKenzie of Barbados (left) at SOTIC 2026 in Georgetown, Guyana
Regional Tourism Youth Congress 2026 participants with CTO and Carnival Corporation officials at SOTIC 2026 in Georgetown, Guyana.
Regional Tourism Youth Congress 2026 winner Amarni Webster of Anguilla (center) is flanked by Anguilla Minister of Tourism Cardigan Connor (right) and Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism and CTO Chairman Charles “Max” Fernandez (left). From left are Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO secretary-general and CEO; Bermuda Minister of Tourism Owen Darrell; St. Lucia Minister of Tourism Dr. Ernest Hilaire; Carnival Corporation Senior Vice President Marie McKenzie; Guyana Minister of Tourism Susan Rodrigues; British Virgin Islands Junior Minister of Tourism Luce Hodge-Smith; Tobago Secretary of Tourism Zorisha Hackett; Turks and Caicos Islands Minister of Tourism Zhavargo Jolly; and Colin James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and chair of the CTO Board of Directors.
Anguilla to host CTO’s inaugural Sports Tourism Summit in 2027
New regional gathering will explore how sports can drive tourism growth, support community health and expand opportunities across the Caribbean
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (Oct. 10, 2026) — Anguilla will host the inaugural Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Sports Tourism Summit, Aug. 12-14, 2027, creating a new regional platform focused on harnessing the growing intersection of sports, tourism and economic development.
The announcement was made during CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Georgetown, Guyana, where Caribbean tourism leaders met under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive.”
The Anguilla summit will bring together tourism and sports officials, event organizers, athletes, sports organizations, destination marketers, private-sector partners and other stakeholders to examine how Caribbean destinations can use sports to attract visitors, stimulate economic activity, strengthen destination brands and create opportunities for local communities.
“Sports is one of the most powerful connectors we have in the Caribbean, and its potential as a driver of tourism deserves greater regional attention,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, secretary-general and CEO of CTO. “This summit will create a dedicated space for destinations to share ideas, build partnerships and look more strategically at how sporting events and experiences can contribute to tourism growth while generating meaningful benefits for our people. Anguilla is an excellent destination in which to begin that conversation.”
The summit also represents an opportunity for Anguilla to build on its growing focus on sports tourism while showcasing its wider tourism product and capabilities in the meetings, incentives, conferences and events market.
Cardigan Connor, Anguilla’s minister of health, tourism and sports and a former first-class cricketer, said hosting the inaugural summit reflects the destination’s ambition to play a larger role in the development of sports tourism across the Caribbean. “Having spent much of my life in sports, I have seen firsthand the doors it can open,” Connor said. “Anguilla sees tremendous potential at the intersection of sports and tourism — not only to attract visitors and generate economic activity, but also to provide pathways to training, international exposure, scholarships and careers for young Anguillians and Caribbean nationals.”
Connor said Anguilla’s expanding sports ecosystem, including its established tennis culture and growing reputation for golf, provides a strong foundation on which to build. “Sports bring people together and generate reasons to travel,” he said. “With our tennis facilities, championship golf offerings and deep sporting traditions, we have an opportunity to position Anguilla more deliberately in this market. Hosting the first CTO Sports Tourism Summit allows us to showcase our strengths while helping to advance a regional conversation around this burgeoning market.”
He also highlighted the connection between sports, tourism and health, including the possibility of using sporting initiatives to raise funds to support people affected by cancer. Reflecting on the disease’s impact on members of the Caribbean cricketing community and families across the region, he pointed to an opportunity to bring people together through sports in support of a shared cause.
Anguilla has long incorporated sports tourism into its destination development strategy, with sporting activities and events complementing the island’s established appeal in luxury leisure travel, culinary experiences, wellness and other niche markets.
Jameel Rochester, director of tourism for the Anguilla Tourist Board, said the summit provides an important opportunity to introduce more tourism professionals and industry partners to the breadth of the Anguilla experience. “For Anguilla, sports tourism is about much more than staging an event. It is about creating another compelling reason to visit the destination and then connecting those visitors with our accommodations, restaurants, beaches, culture, experiences and, most important, our people,” Rochester said.
“The summit allows us to demonstrate that a small destination can develop distinctive experiences, build smart partnerships and deliver the high level of hospitality for which Anguilla is known.”
Additional details on the CTO Sports Tourism Summit, including venue, program, speakers and registration information, will be announced in the coming months.
SOTIC was supported by official conference partners Amadeus and the Inter-American Development Bank, Tourism Intelligence Awards sponsor ASM Global Route Development, contributing sponsors the Association of Value Airlines, Digicel Business and Atlantic Suites Hotel, Youth Congress sponsor Carnival Corporation, and official airline partner interCaribbean Airways.
Antigua and Barbuda elected chair of Caribbean Tourism Organization
Tourism Minister Charles “Max” Fernandez to lead CTO Council of Ministers as organization advances Reimagine Plan and regional supply-side agenda
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (Oct. 6, 2026) — Antigua and Barbuda has been elected chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment Charles “Max” Fernandez assuming leadership of the CTO Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism as the organization advances its tourism development agenda.
Following today’s Annual General Meeting, Fernandez succeeds Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill, whose two-year chairmanship helped advance CTO’s Reimagine Plan and strengthen collaboration among member countries, industry partners and regional stakeholders.
At the Board of Directors level, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority CEO Colin James will assume the chairmanship, succeeding Andrea Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
The Board also elected vice chairs representing CTO’s subregions. The United States Virgin Islands will represent the U.S. territories; the British Virgin Islands will represent the British overseas territories; Saint-Martin will represent the French-speaking territories; and St. Kitts and Nevis and The Bahamas were elected to represent CARICOM countries. Selection of a representative for the Dutch-speaking territories was deferred until the next meeting.
The six subregional vice chair positions, together with the Board chairman, comprise the Executive Committee of the CTO Board of Directors.
During Barbados’ tenure, CTO continued implementation of its Reimagine Plan, centered on five strategic pillars: advocacy, market competitiveness, tourism intelligence, sustainable and regenerative tourism, and people development.
Outgoing CTO Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill presides over the CTO Annual General Meeting in Georgetown, Guyana, alongside CTO Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper and Andrea Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
The organization also expanded its focus on strengthening the tourism supply side, including workforce development, local supplier integration, infrastructure, logistics, technology and stronger linkages between tourism and sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and the creative industries.
Gooding-Edghill consistently emphasized regional collaboration and the importance of the Caribbean speaking with a stronger collective voice while sharing knowledge, expertise and common priorities.
CTO Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper thanked Barbados for its leadership and welcomed Antigua and Barbuda to the chairmanship as the organization moves forward with the continued implementation of its strategic priorities.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to Minister Gooding-Edghill and CEO Andrea Franklin for their stewardship, commitment to regional collaboration and the leadership they have provided as CTO advanced the Reimagine Plan,” said Regis-Prosper. “We welcome Minister Fernandez and CEO James as they take on their respective roles at an important point in CTO’s evolution as we continue translating our strategy into meaningful action and greater value for our members and the wider Caribbean tourism sector.”
The election took place ahead of Wednesday’s opening of the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026.
Held under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive,”
SOTIC is CTO’s principal forum for bringing together tourism ministers, commissioners and directors of tourism, private-sector executives, regional and international partners, academics, media, young people and other industry stakeholders to examine the issues shaping Caribbean tourism.
SOTIC is supported by official conference partners Amadeus and the Inter-American Development Bank, Tourism Intelligence Awards sponsor ASM Global Route Development, contributing sponsors the Association of Value Airlines, Digicel Business and Atlantic Suites Hotel, Youth Congress sponsor Carnival Corporation, and official airline partner interCaribbean Airways.
Members of CTO’s Ministerial Council gather in Georgetown, Guyana, during meetings held ahead of the opening of the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026.
Anguilla advances tourism priorities at CTO meetings in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (Oct. 6, 2026) — Anguilla is leveraging its participation in the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026 to advance key priorities for the island and the wider Caribbean, including sports tourism, improved regional connectivity, youth engagement and stronger collaboration among destinations.
Minister of Health, Tourism and Sports Cardigan Connor and Anguilla Tourist Board Director of Tourism Jameel Rochester are leading Anguilla’s delegation at the regional gathering in Georgetown bringing together tourism ministers, directors, industry executives and other stakeholders from across the Caribbean and the world.
Minister Connor, a former first-class cricketer, has underscored the growing potential of sports tourism as part of Anguilla’s broader tourism development strategy, highlighting opportunities to use sporting events and experiences to attract visitors, stimulate economic activity and create greater opportunities for young people and local communities.
Director of Tourism Jameel Rochester (left) and Minister of Tourism Cardigan Connor in Guyana this week
Rochester participated in the CTO Board of Directors meeting Monday while Minister Connor took part in Tuesday’s Ministerial Council meeting, both engaging regional tourism leaders on issues affecting the competitiveness and continued growth of the Caribbean tourism industry.
Regional air connectivity has been a particular focus for Rochester who serves on CTO’s Airlift Committee. In meetings and sidebar discussions throughout SOTIC, he has continued to advocate for improved intra-Caribbean access and more practical connections between Anguilla and key regional and international gateways.
Anguilla’s delegation also includes Joleyne Robin-Williams, tourism planner in the Ministry of Health, Tourism and Sports, and Junior Minister of Tourism Amarni Webster.
Robin-Williams is participating in the week’s tourism discussions while Webster will represent Anguilla in Thursday’s CTO Regional Tourism Youth Congress alongside junior ministers and commissioners from across the Caribbean.
Webster’s participation reinforces Anguilla’s focus on developing the next generation of tourism leaders and ensuring young people have a voice in conversations about the future of the region’s tourism industry.
Director of Tourism Jameel Rochester with Junior Minister of Tourism Amarni Webster in Guyana this week
Anguilla’s strong presence at SOTIC also provides opportunities to strengthen relationships with regional tourism partners, exchange insights on emerging visitor trends and contribute to discussions about the future direction of Caribbean tourism.
SOTIC 2026 is being held in Guyana under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive.” The conference brings together public- and private-sector tourism leaders to examine the forces shaping the Caribbean tourism industry and identify strategies to strengthen the region’s competitiveness.
“The Caribbean is strongest when we work together while still recognizing what makes each of our destinations unique,” said Minister Connor. “Anguilla comes to these discussions ready to contribute, to learn and to help ensure that tourism continues to deliver meaningful benefits for our people.”
Eusi Kwayana – Guyanese Pan-Africanist And Co-Founder Of The WPA Passes At 101
By News Americas Now Staff Writer
News Americas Now, NY, NY, Sun. Oct. 11, 2026: Eusi Kwayana, one of Guyana’s most enduring political figures and a founding member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), has died at age 101.
Kwayana, born Sydney Evanson King on April 4, 1925, died Saturday, October 10, at his home in Atlanta, Georgia, closing out a political and intellectual life that spanned colonial rule, the fight for self-government, and decades of activism in independent Guyana.
Born in Lusignan on Guyana’s East Coast of Demerara, Kwayana moved to Buxton at age seven, a village that would shape his political identity for the rest of his life. He entered politics in the 1940s through village organizing, and around 1947 joined Dr. Cheddi Jagan and others in founding the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). After the PPP’s 1953 election victory, Kwayana served as Minister of Communication and Works — a government the British colonial administration suspended and removed from office months later, amid fears of the party’s direction. Kwayana was detained by British authorities in 1954 as the colonial government moved to suppress unrest.
He later turned toward grassroots, Africa-centered organizing, helping build the African Society for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa (ASCRIA), which merged into the newly formed WPA in 1974. Working alongside historian and activist Dr. Walter Rodney, Kwayana became part of the WPA’s collective leadership during the politically turbulent 1970s and ’80s, and was elected to Guyana’s National Assembly in 1985 as the party’s sole parliamentary representative.
The WPA said that in 1974, Kwayana co-founded the Working People’s Alliance and remained a committed member until his death. Within the WPA, he served as Executive member, Member of Parliament and de facto editor of the party’s organs, Open Word and Dayclean. We remember Eusi as an excellent party organizer and mobilizer. Whenever the party was low on morale, we turned to him for confidence. We also remember him as a loyal party member who never compromised his integrity and independent praxis. For that reason, we label him the modern pioneer of the Independent Radical strand in modern Guyanese politics. “While he gave 52 years of service to the WPA, he also labored in the valley for the original PPP and the PNC, in which he served as Assistant General Secretary and General Secretary, respectively. He served as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Member in the 1953 PPP government. In addition to being General Secretary, he served as editor of the PNC’s newspaper, New Nation.”
Kwayana was also a lifelong educator, beginning as a primary school teacher at age 15. In 1956 he founded Buxton’s County High School, later renamed Republic Cooperative High School. He authored several books examining race, labor, and Guyana’s political development, including The Bauxite Strike and the Old Politics, Scars of Bondage, Guyana: No Guilty Race, and Walter Rodney: His Last Days and Campaigns. His play The Promised Land, staged by a young cast from Buxton, won Best Play in the Youth Category at the 1965 British Guiana Drama Festival. He also wrote party songs for all three of Guyana’s major political parties — the PPP, the People’s National Congress, and the WPA.
In 1968, Kwayana met American Pan-Africanist and civil rights activist Tchaiko Kwayana, formerly known as Ann Cook. The two married in Georgetown in 1971 in a ceremony incorporating Yoruba rites; she died in 2017. Kwayana retired from public life in 2002 and relocated to the United States.
His death marks the passing of a figure whose life tracked Guyana’s full arc from British colonial rule through independence and the decades of political struggle that followed – as party founder, detainee, parliamentarian, educator, playwright, and historian of his country’s own making.
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Anguilla’s Maundays Bay named world’s No. 2 beach in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards
Four Anguilla resorts earn recognition; Anguilla ranks No. 8 among the Caribbean and Atlantic’s top islands
THE VALLEY, Anguilla (Oct. 6, 2026) — Anguilla’s Maundays Bay has been named the second-best beach in the world in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, recognizing the island’s exceptional natural beauty and enduring appeal as a Caribbean destination.
Four Anguilla resorts also earned recognition in the awards’ Caribbean Islands resort category led by Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, Anguilla, at No. 2. Malliouhana Resort ranked No. 20; Zemi Beach House, LXR Hotels & Resorts, No. 23; and Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla, No. 34.
With its crescent of white sand and turquoise waters, Maundays Bay offers a setting that captures Anguilla’s relaxed charm. Home to Cap Juluca, the bay pairs natural beauty with the island’s distinctive approach to understated luxury.
“Maundays Bay’s ranking as the world’s second-best beach, alongside recognition for four of our resorts, speaks to both Anguilla’s natural beauty and the quality of hospitality our island delivers,” said Cardigan Connor, Anguilla’s minister of health, tourism and sports. “These honors also recognize the people behind the experience — the resort teams whose care and dedication help make a visit to Anguilla so memorable.”
“Recognition from Condé Nast Traveler’s readers, who have experienced destinations across the globe, carries particular weight. It reinforces the importance of protecting the natural beauty and distinctive character that draw visitors to Anguilla while continuing to deliver the exceptional hospitality they associate with our island,” added Minister Connor.
Anguilla also ranked No. 8 among the top islands in the Caribbean and the Atlantic in the publication’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Condé Nast Traveler received close to 800,000 survey responses from readers across the United States rating their travel experiences around the world for this year’s awards.
The 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards are available at cntraveler.com/rca and will be featured in the magazine’s November issue.
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